Queen officially opens BBC's new Broadcasting House building

The Queen has officially opened the BBC's rebuilt Broadcasting House, creating a memorable TV moment when she appeared behind the newsreaders on air.

She had earlier made a live broadcast on BBC Radio 4, in which she said it was a "great pleasure" to see the BBC's new central London headquarters.

During a tour of the building, she met many of the BBC's biggest names.

The Duke of Edinburgh had also been expected to attend, but was admitted to hospital on Thursday for an operation.

Crowds gathered outside the building, which flew the Royal Standard, to await the arrival of the Queen, who wore a powder blue coat and hat.

BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten and BBC director general Tony Hall met the Queen and escorted her on the first part of her visit.

She started the tour, her first visit to the corporation's recently expanded headquarters, by visiting BBC Radio 1 and meeting presenters including Nick Grimshaw, Trevor Nelson and Sara Cox.

She then visited the station's famous Live Lounge to watch a live performance by The Script, whose lead singer is Danny O'Donoghue, also well-known as a judge on BBC One show The Voice.

The Queen officially opened the BBC's rebuilt Broadcasting House headquarters in central London with a live message on Radio 4.

BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten looks on as the Queen unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

News presenters and stars of television including David Dimbleby, Sir Bruce Forysth and Tess Daly, lined up to meet the Queen in the foyer of New Broadcasting House.

The Tardis from Dr Who provided the backdrop to the Queen's conversation with newsreader Fiona Bruce and presenters Alex Jones and Stacey Dooley.

The Queen was surrounded by staff in the main newsroom of New Broadcasting House.

Her next destination was the building's third floor, where Fran Unsworth, the BBC's acting director of news, introduced her to several BBC Radio 4 staff, including Today presenter John Humphrys.

Mr Humphrys asked her how the Duke of Edinburgh was, adding "he was looking well yesterday".

The Queen replied: "That's because he's not ill."

The duke went to hospital straight after a Buckingham Palace garden party on Thursday afternoon and had an exploratory operation on his abdomen on Friday.

Buckingham Palace said later he was "progressing satisfactorily" and that the results from the surgery would now be analysed.

Background appearance

The Queen then joined another Today presenter, James Naughtie, and Sian Williams live on Radio 4 where she gave a short address to declare the BBC's new home open.

Analysis

By Peter HuntRoyal correspondent

It was a tale of two royals, in two different locations, undergoing two very different experiences.

While Prince Philip was having an operation, the Queen was at the BBC.

What was striking about the visit was how much the Queen enjoyed it and how her presence excited a significant number of BBC employees.

Footage of them seeking good vantage points in the BBC newsroom in order to capture the Queen on their smartphones will further convince opponents of the monarchy that the two institutions are too close.

For a woman who is always the subject of other people's fascination, the Queen appeared pleased to meet those she's used to watching on the TV.

She said to one BBC star: "It's very interesting to see you all in real life."

"It is a great pleasure to visit the BBC today, and to see it in its new home," she said.

"I remember first coming to Broadcasting House with my father, the King, and my mother and sister shortly before the war.

"I came again with the Duke of Edinburgh shortly before the coronation in 1953."

She added: "I hope this new building will serve you well for the future and I am delighted to declare it open today."

Afterwards, she met BBC newsreaders Huw Edwards and Sophie Raworth and weather presenter Carol Kirkwood at the start of a tour of the BBC newsroom.

The guided tour took her to look through the glass during a News Channel broadcast. Staff laughed and broke into a round of applause as she appeared in the background of the studio shot, prompting newreaders Julian Worricker and Sophie Long to turn round.

After leaving the basement-level newsroom, the Queen met stars including David Dimbleby and Strictly Come Dancing trio Sir Bruce Forsyth, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman in the ground-floor reception.

In the building's Media Cafe, which is normally open to the public but was closed for the duration of the visit, she was introduced to newsreader Fiona Bruce, Radio 1 DJ Greg James and actress Anne Reid.

At the end of her visit, the Queen unveiled a plaque marking the occasion at a reception attended by BBC staff, presenters and trustees.

Before the plaque was unveiled, Lord Patten wished the Duke of Edinburgh a quick recovery from his operation.

He said it was a "particular privilege" to welcome the Queen to Broadcasting House.

The Queen had previously visited Broadcasting House on five previous occasions but those were all before the BBC's extensive project to overhaul, modernise and expand the building to accommodate staff being moved from Television Centre, which closed in March.

The building is now home to more than 30 domestic and World Service radio stations, three 24-hour TV news channels, all of the BBC's main news bulletins and is the workplace for 6,000 BBC staff from the BBC's television, radio, news and online services.